STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- We spotted 9-year-old Matthew last Thursday morning, Sept. 5, reeling in a large orange koi on the rocky bank of Allison Pond.

Fishing and golf are his favorite sports, said Matthew, who belongs to Boy Scout Troop 85 and is in fifth-grade at PS 48.

"I started fishing when I was 3 or 4 years old – my dad taught me. He asked me if I wanted to come fishing with him. We sat for a long time, and when he caught a fish he let me reel it in." Matthew recently returned from Spring Lake, N.J., where "I caught two sand sharks and 10 spot." He's gone charter fishing with his father and once landed a 32-inch fluke.

At Allison Pond, he's caught and released sun fish, rock bass, "and once a large-mouthed bass," in addition to koi.

Catch and release "is important so the fish don't get under-populated," Matthew commented.

"In the spring, a lot of people come and fish at Allison Pond, but now the water is low because of evaporation from the heat."